Nasal interface and removable pad therefor

ABSTRACT

A nasal interface includes a base and a flexible, unitary pad connected to the base. The base defines at least one gas inlet and the pad includes a pair of wing portions positioned at an angle relative to each other. Each wing portion has an upper surface devoid of any protrusion and defines at least one hole through which a gas entering the wing portion from the base exits the wing portion. The pad also includes a connecting portion that interconnects the two wing portions and is interposed between the holes of the wing portions. The flexibility of the pad permits joint and independent movement of the upper surfaces of the wing portions relative to the base. In one embodiment, the pad is removably connected to the base. In another embodiment, the pad includes a bellows portion to provide the pad&#39;s flexibility.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of, and claims priority to, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/280,650 filed on Oct. 25, 2011, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,985,115, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/280,650 claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/406,315 filed on Oct. 25, 2010, the entire disclosure of which is also incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to a breathing apparatus, and more particularly to a nasal interface for a breathing apparatus that may be used in connection with reducing snoring.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Snoring is an affliction that affects many people. Snoring may be an ongoing, regular problem, or may occur intermittently or occasionally. Snoring may result in various problems, both to the person snoring as well as those around the person snoring. For example, snoring has been linked to sleep deprivation, in which the sleeping patterns of the person snoring may be disrupted. Such sleep deprivation may result in daytime drowsiness, lack of focus, as well as other problems. There are a number of other breathing disorders including, but not limited to, OSA, COPD, and Asthma that could be aided by the use of a supplemental breathing apparatus.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a general system that can employ a nasal interface in accordance with the present disclosure. Generally, an apparatus for treating snoring can included an air source 1, a nasal interface 2 and a connection 3, such as tubing, connecting the air source 1 and the nasal interface 2. The comfort of a user is important in the arrangement of a nasal interface. It is also important to try to minimize the amount of air flow that leaks out of the nasal interface. In other words, it is desirable to have an efficient coupling between the nasal interface and the user's nose so as to try to maximize the amount of air that is transferred between the nasal interface and the user's nose.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

According to a first implementation, a nasal interface can comprise a base portion having a least one inlet; a soft pad portion, including a lower border operatively connected to the base portion, wing portions positioned at an angle relative to each other and having at least one hole formed therein, and a bellows portion connecting the lower border and the wing portions.

The details of one or more implementations are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features will become apparent from the description, the drawings, and the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a general system that can employ a nasal interface in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a right rear perspective view of an illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the illustrative embodiment show in FIGS. 2 and 3 taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the base portion in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of a soft pad portion of a nasal interface in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 7A is a cross-sectional view of a nasal interface in accordance with the present disclosure taken along line 7A-7A of FIG. 6.

FIG. 7B is a left side elevational view of a nasal interface in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 illustrates a user wearing a nasal interface in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 9 illustrates a user wearing a nasal interface in accordance with the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 3 is a front view of the illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure shown in FIG. 2. Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the illustrative exemplary embodiment includes a hard base portion 5 and a soft pad portion 10. The soft pad 10 can comprise a silicon pad, and the base portion 5 can be relatively harder than the soft pad portion 10. As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the soft pad portion 10 is unitary in nature and includes a winged shaped structure with wings 15 and 20. The wings 15 and 20 respectively include upper surfaces 25 and 30 with respective distal ends 16 and 21. The wings 15 and 20 respectively include therein air holes 35 and 40. These air holes are sized, positioned, and physically separated (spaced apart) on the upper surfaces 25 and 30 of wings 15 and 20 to locate the air holes in registry with a user's nostrils. An example of one such arrangement is shown in FIG. 8. As seen in FIG. 8, the upper surfaces 25 and 30 of the wings 15 and 20 engage the underside of a user's nose. As also described below, this allows air from the nasal interface to flow to the user's nostrils. In other embodiments, the upper surfaces 25 and 30 could include protrusions or other physically noticeable features about or near the air holes 35 and 40 to aid in positioning of the nasal interface with respect to a user's nostrils.

In an illustrative embodiment, the upper surfaces 25 and 30 may be positioned relative to each other at an angle of about 90° on the wings 15 and 20 of a nasal interface in accordance with the present disclosure. An exemplary vertex of a 90° angle corresponding to the included angle between the wings 15 and 20 is indicated by line 82 in FIG. 3. The selection of the angle is based upon ergonomic studies. Of course, in various embodiments the included angle may vary from about a 180° included angle to about a 45° included angle. The upper surfaces 25 and 30 may seal around the users nostrils as shown in FIG. 8. The upper surfaces 25 and 30 may be pressed smoothly against the user's nose by the systems pressure (e.g., mechanical pressure of the nasal interface as held against the user's nostrils as shown in FIG. 8) to form this seal.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the upper surfaces 25 and 30 of wings 15 and 20 slope across a width of the pad portion 10 from a relatively higher position at point 45 to a relatively lower position at point 50. While not necessary to practicing the invention, this slope allows a nasal interface in accordance with the present disclosure to be positioned on a user's nose to conveniently accept tubing such as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the soft pad portion 10 includes a lower border 55. In the illustrative embodiment, the lower border 55 aids in coupling the soft pad portion 10 to the base portion 5. The coupling can be any convenient coupling, such as a mechanical connection, an adhesive, welding, etc. In some embodiments, the lower border 55 may have a more or less round or oval cross section. The lower border 55 may be tensioned over an upper border of the base portion 10, which can be formed to fit using, for example, a key-lock type connection. The round shape may facilitate a tight sealing between the base and the soft pad 10 because of the tensile forces working radially toward to the center. Depending upon the use of the nasal interface and the type of coupling, the base portion 5 can be removable from the soft pad portion 10. Such removal facilitates cleaning the nasal interface or changing one of the base portion 5 or the soft pad portion 10.

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the illustrative embodiment show in FIGS. 2 and 3. In the illustrative embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the soft pad portion 10 includes a bellows 60. Bellows 60 may provide flexibility in height of the nasal interface and the angle at which the upper surfaces 25 and 30 reside with respect to a user's nostrils. The bellows 60 can function as a spring if there is pressure between the user's nose and the base portion 5.

The illustrated bellows includes vertical parts 65 (e.g., relative to the base) and horizontal parts 70 (e.g., relative to the base). The vertical parts 65 may give stability to the shape. The horizontal parts may allow a vertical movement of upper surfaces 25 and 30. This vertical movement may be for the whole soft pad portion 10, relative to the base portion 5. The vertical movement may be on one side of the pad, or both sides of the pad (including movement to different degrees on different sides). Thus, the bellows 60 allows the angle of the upper surfaces 25 and 30 relative to the base to change. This flexibility of the bellows and ability for the angle of the upper surfaces 25 and 30 to change may result in a self-sealing effect between a user's nostrils and the upper surfaces 25 and 30. While illustrated as extending around the nasal interface, the bellows 60 may extend only around a portion of the nasal interface.

FIG. 6 is a partial top view of a soft pad portion 10 of a nasal interface in accordance with the present disclosure. The holes 35 and 40 in the upper surfaces 25 and 30 let the air into and out of a user's nostrils. The size and shape of these holes can be adjusted depending upon the desired flow and acoustic characteristics of a given design in accordance with the disclosure. While not shown in FIG. 6, the holes may have a cross section optimized for low pressure losses and low noise from the airflow through the holes. Also, in the illustrated embodiment, the holes 35 and 40 are near the edges between upper surfaces 25 and 30, and side surface 75. This position is shown in the illustrative embodiment because most people have nostrils beginning very near or directly above the user's upper lips. As further shown in the illustrated embodiment, as well as in FIGS. 2, 3, and 8, the wing portions and their upper surfaces 25, 30 are interconnected by way of a central connecting portion 84, which is interposed between the air holes 35, 40 of the wings 15, 20 and can seal against the central bottom strip (columella) of the user's nose during use. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6, the connecting portion 84 of the pad 10 is devoid of any aperture.

Because a user's nostrils can begin directly from the upper lips there may not be a significant surface to seal the upper surfaces 25 and 30 to the user's nose. To address this, an illustrative embodiment may include side surface 75. The side surface 75 can aid in providing a seal between the nasal interface and the user. It can do so by the side surface 75 abutting and pressing against the user's upper lip.

The nasal interface, as shown in FIG. 9, may be positioned at an angle against the nose and upper lip of a user. In such an embodiment, the surfaces of the soft pad portion 10 have very soft and safe position. Because of the flexibility of the soft pad 10, such as provided by the bellows 60, the nasal interface can be adjusted relative to three planes: with respect to upper lips, and the two wings 15 and 20 with respect to a user's nostrils. This flexibility in positioning allows the position of the nasal interface to be highly defined. Gliding of the nasal interface may be reduced and/or prevented by this structural form. In addition tilting of the base portion 5 may prevent leakage due to the spring like function of the bellows 60 and the pressure the bellows 60 provides against a user's nose and the flexibility in angle of the upper surfaces 25 and 30 that the bellows 60 permits. Very low forces are needed with embodiments in accordance with the disclosure to effectively seal the nasal interface with a user's nostrils.

In the illustrated embodiment, the base portion 5 can be connected (e.g., glued, welded, snap or press fit, etc.) with one or more tubes as shown in FIG. 8. The illustrative embodiment shown in FIG. 8 utilizes two tubes 80 and 85, rather than one tube. The tubes connect to holes 95, 100 in the base portion 5.

The holes 95, 100 can be oriented in different angles. In one embodiment, the holes 95, 100 can be adjusted in every direction that is reasonable to guarantee a perfect seat of the nasal interface. While the illustrated embodiments depict two holes 95 and 100 for connecting to two tubes 80 and 85 on either side of the nasal interface, other arrangements may also be utilized. For example, one or more tubes may be connected at various locations on the nasal interface, such as the front of the nasal interface, or other suitable location.

The tubes 80, 85, in addition to supplying air to the nasal interface, may be utilized for holding the mask in the right position for maintaining connection to (e.g., sealing engagement with) the user's nose. In one embodiment, the tubes may come from a direction above the user's ear such as shown in FIG. 9. In other embodiments, a headgear arrangement not including the tubes (and/or in addition to the tubes) may be utilized for positioning the mask relative to the user.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the base portion 5 may have an additional hole 110. The size and shape of the hole 110 can be selected in accordance with the flow and acoustic characteristics of a given design in accordance with the disclosure. FIG. 5 illustrates a top view of the base portion 5 in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. The additional hole 110 can be, as shown in the illustrative embodiments, open to the environment (air outlet). In one embodiment, the hole 110 may be designed to allow airflow of about 201/min at 2 mbar overpressure inside the mask. This may reduce and/or prevent a CO₂-concentration to the user from being too high. Additionally, the hole 110 may be sized to provide an open breathing interface, such that the user may generally breathe ambient air entering through the hole. The ambient air may be supplemented with gasses (e.g., oxygen, etc.) supplied via the tube(s) (e.g., tubes 80, 85). As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, an additional tube 120 can be used to measure the pressure within the nasal interface. It can also be used for pressure feedback to the air supply 1 shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 7A is a cross-sectional view of a nasal interface in accordance with the present disclosure, viewed from the left side. FIG. 7B is a left side view of a nasal interface in accordance with the present disclosure. These views of an illustrative embodiment in accordance with the disclosure provide further illustration of the flexibility that the disclosed structure provides. FIG. 7A also illustrates the slope of the upper surface 25, as mentioned above.

For a nasal interface which fits a wide range of users, the nasal interface can have a relatively small dimension with respect to users' noses. In addition, the shape of the wings 25, 30, might be bigger depending upon the target size nose of users. As seen in FIGS. 2, 3, and 5, the base portion 5 has a relatively small dimension. The inner cross section, such as shown in FIG. 5, allows its overall shape to be selected for styling. The structure of the disclosed illustrative embodiments allows the base portion 5 to move sideward and upwards with reduced displacement of wings 25, 30 at the user's nose.

Having thus described the invention of the present application in detail and by reference to embodiments thereof, it will be apparent that modifications and variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention defined in the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A nasal interface comprising: a base defining at least one gas inlet; and a flexible, unitary pad connected to the base, the pad including a pair of wing portions positioned at an angle relative to each other and a connecting portion interconnecting the wing portions, each wing portion having an upper surface devoid of any protrusion and defining at least one hole through which a gas entering the wing portion from the base exits the wing portion, the connecting portion being interposed between the holes of the wing portions, wherein flexibility of the pad permits joint and independent movement of the upper surfaces of the wing portions relative to the base.
 2. A nasal interface according to claim 1, wherein the pad is removably connected to the base.
 3. A nasal interface according to claim 1, wherein the pad is softer than the base.
 4. A nasal interface according to claim 1, wherein the angle at which the wing portions are positioned relative to each other is in the range of about 45° to about 180°.
 5. A nasal interface according to claim 1, wherein the pad further includes: a lower border connected to the base; and a bellows portion connecting the lower border to the wing portions, wherein flexibility of the bellows portion permits the joint and independent movement of the upper surfaces of the wing portions relative to the base.
 6. A nasal interface according to claim 1, wherein the at least one hole in a first wing portion of the pair is physically separate from the at least one hole in a second wing portion of the pair.
 7. A nasal interface according to claim 1, wherein the connecting portion of the pad is devoid of any aperture.
 8. A nasal interface according to claim 1, wherein the pad is sloped downward across a width thereof from a higher, first position to a lower, second position.
 9. A flexible, unitary, removable pad for use in a nasal interface that includes a base having at least one gas inlet, the pad comprising: a lower border connectable to the base; a pair of wing portions positioned at an angle relative to each other, each wing portion having an upper surface devoid of any protrusion and defining at least one hole through which a gas entering the wing portion from the base exits the wing portion; a connecting portion interconnecting the wing portions and being interposed between the holes of the wing portions; and a bellows portion connecting the lower border to the wing portions, wherein flexibility of the bellows portion permits joint and independent movement of the upper surfaces of the wing portions relative to the base.
 10. A pad for a nasal interface according to claim 9, wherein the pad is softer than the base.
 11. A pad for a nasal interface according to claim 9, wherein the angle at which the wing portions are positioned relative to each other is in the range of about 45° to about 180°.
 12. A pad for a nasal interface according to claim 9, wherein the at least one hole in a first wing portion of the pair is physically separate from the at least one hole in a second wing portion of the pair.
 13. A pad for a nasal interface according to claim 9, wherein the connecting portion is devoid of any aperture.
 14. A pad for a nasal interface according to claim 9, wherein the pad is sloped downward across a width thereof from a higher, first position to a lower, second position. 